Switch mechanism.



P. F. YOUNG, SWITCH MEGHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 14, 1909.

Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W/TNESSES F. F. YOUNG.

SWITCH MEGHANISM. i APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1909.

yPatented Aug. 3, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' Arron/v5 rs FRANK F. YOUNG, OF LOWELL, OHIO.

SWITCH MECHAN ISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 14, 1909.

Patented Aug. 8, 1909.

Serial No. 495,969.

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, FRANK F. YOUNG, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lowell, in the county of Washington and State of Ohio, have invented a new and VImproved Switch Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to railway switches, and particularly to the switches of light railways such as trolley tracks.

The object of the invention is to provide means for operating the switch from the car platform so as to obviate the necessity for operating the switch by hand.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be more fully f described hereinafter and particularly set vand especially to forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specilication, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan of the track at a switch which is operated by mechanism constructed according to this invention, this view showing the switch open; Fig. 2 is a plan similar to Fig. 1, but representing the cover of the casing or switch box removed so as to disclose the arrangement of parts; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 6 and passing through the car platform, this view illustrating the manner in which the switch may be operated from the car, and Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing the forward end of a car and illustrating the manner in which the switch mechanism is operated.

Referring more articularly to the parts,

IIigs. 1 to 4, 1, 1, represent the rails of the track, and 2 represents the movable switch point which is pivoted at the point 3. In Fig. 1 this switch point is represented in its open position so that a car coming from the left would run onto the rails 4, 4, which lead to a branch track or siding. In applying my invention I provide in the bed of the track a case or box 5 which is preferably formed of cast iron or similar material. The body of this case is depressed, as shown, and it is provided with an inwardly pro'ecting shoulder 6 which supports a removable cover or cover plate 7. This cover plate is provided with slots S and 8a which extend longitudinally of the case, and above these slots, wide grooves or recesses 9 are formed, as shown. The case tapers toward the end which is remote from tiie switch point, and on the end wall 1() at this end of the case, webs 11 are provided, between. which a lever 12 is pivotally mounted on a horizontal pivot bolt 13. In the recesses or seats 9 I provide slides 14 and 14a, and these slides are provided with bolts 15 and 22 which pass down through the slots S and 8a, as indicated. The bolt 15 of the slide 14 is connected by a horizontal link lwith the upper end of the lever 12. To the lower end of the lever 12, a long link 17 is attached, which extends longitudinally of the case, as shown. `The opposite end of this link is attached to one arm of a bell crank lever 18, said bell crank lever being rotatably mounted on a pin 19. The other arm of this bell crank lever is connected by a link 2O with the switch point 2, said link passing out through a suitable opening 20a in the adjacent side wall of the case. On the link 17, under the slot 8, an upward extension or post 21 is formed, and this ost is attached by a pin or bolt 22 to the slide 14a.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, on the platform 23, a depressible plunger 24 is provided, said plunger having a head 25 which is adapted to be pushed downwardly by the inotormans foot. This plunger is guided in a sleeve or bushing 26 and is extended downwardly below the bushing,.as indicated. To the lower end of the plunger, a trip or trigger 27 is attached by a hinge connection 2S. This hinge is disposed at the rear side so that the trigger can swing in a rearward direction, but not in a forward direction. On the forward side of the trigger, an eyebolt 29 is provided, to which there is attached a coil spring 30, and this spring extends upwardly and is attached at 31 to the under side of the car platform. The lower end of thel trigger 27 is expanded laterally so as to form a head 32, and this head has a special function in engaging the slides 14 and 111a to operate them. As indicated in Figs. 3 and 6, these slides present inclined faces on their upper sides, and on the left, that is, on the side from which the car approaches. On the upper edge of these inclined faces the slides project upwardly so as to provide shoulders 34, and these shoulders are adapted to be engaged by the head 32, as indicated understood that the plunger is normally held i elevated by the spring so that the trip dev ice will pass over' the slides without operating them; this enables the car to passover the main track without passing over the switch.

In connection'with the mode'of operation of the device, it should be noted that the slides 14 and 14d when moved will throw the switch in opposite directions, that is, when the slide 14 moves toward the right it will open the switch,l and when the slide 14 moves toward the right it will close the switch.

proaclies the switch.

and he wishes to close it, he will depress the j plunger just before the plunger has reached the slide 14a.

switch, he can cien the switch simply by unger before it arrives at f depressing the p j the slide 14. The spring 30 permits the trip 27 to be deflected back toward the position shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 6 so as to permit thetrigger to pass over the slide.

Attention is called to tl-ie fact that the slides 14 and 14a are sufficiently long to cover the slots 8 and 8 in either position. ln this way they assist in excluding the rain and' snow from the interior of the box.

The bottoni of the boX is provided with a plurality of openings 35 which are at diii'erent intermediate positions on thelength of the boX, enabling ferent lengths of lever arms to be usedwhen desired. This may be done in order to increase the power of the lever arm of the slides.

The slides 14 and 14L in ay be placed any desirable distance apart to suit special requirements, and need not be sonear together as illustrated. l

l/Vhen a car runs from therails 4 vonto the rails 1, its forward wheels will open the switch of their own accord through the wedging acl tion of the=flanges of the wheels in the space between the `switch point and the adjacent rail. Similarly if the car approaches from the right on the main track, its wheels Lwill throw the switch to its closed position if the switch happens to be open. l Y

In practice, the part of the link 20 which projects from the case may be covered.

Having thus claim as new and Patent,

desire to secure by Letters This enables 'the niotornian on the car to control the switch point as he ap lf the switch is open lf he wishes to go onto the bell crank levers having difdescribed my invention, l i

. connected directly with said switch in the ing means for throwing said opposite direc-tion. l

j 2. ln a device of the' class described, in j combination, a box set in a roadway, a switch point, a bell 'crank lever, a link connecting l said switch point with said bell crank lever, j a second link, a lever connected with said j second link, a slide mounted over said boX l switch point in one direction, said second link having a post projecting upwardly therefrom, and a second slide attached to said post and adapted to actuate said link directly. f

3. ln a'device of the class described, in combination, a case, aV removable cover therefor, said cover', having alining slots therein extending llongitudinally with retrack, a switch point, @i bell necting said switch point with said bell crank lever, second link extending longitudinally under said slots and connected at one end to j spect to the i 1 said bell crank lever, a lever attached at one i end to said second link, a slide having a bolt j passing downwardly throughone Vof said slots, j a third link connecting said slide with said 5 lever, a second slide having a bolt passing l downwardly through the other of said slots, j and a post formed on said second link and l connected with said second bolt, one of said slides 'affording means for throwing said switch in one direction and the other of said slides affording means for throwing switch in an opposite direction.

4. ln a device of the class described, in combination, a vertically.depressible plunger mounted on a car, a trigger having a hinge connection with the lower end of'said plininormally holding said trigger' in longiti'idinal alinement with said plunger, and in position j to engage the track device.

In testiinonjT whereof havesigned my naine to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK F. YOUNG.

Vitnesses: l y

CARRIIVElM. SPiEs, J. H. MATTERN.

and c nnected with said lever to throw saidV crank lever mounted in said case, a link conthe ger, and a spring attached to said trigger and i 

